The association between sedentary time and the risk for CVD is nonlinear with an increased risk only at very high levels. These findings could have implications for guideline recommendations regarding the risks related to sedentary behavior.

Among patients with HF and ICD implantation, exercise training was associated with significant improvement in CRF and lower likelihood of ICD shocks.

Introduction Empagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor used to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by enhancing urinary glucose excretion. Empagliflozin is effective at lowering glycosylated hemoglobin and was recently proven superior to placebo for reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. As with any new drug, there are safety considerations that inform its potential use in patients with T2DM. Areas Covered Here, we evaluate the safety of empagliflozin and provide an expert opinion as to its current and future role in the treatment of patients with T2DM. A search of the English language literature was performed using PubMed search terms: “empagliflozin”, “sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors”, and “drug safety”. Articles and bibliographies relevant to the subject were reviewed and additional references known to the authors were included. Expert Opinion The evidence for empagliflozin is robust with regard to glycemic efficacy and safety. Low risk of hypoglycemia, absence of weight gain, and demonstrated cardiovascular risk reduction support its consideration as a first line medication in addition to metformin for patients with T2DM and CVD. Ongoing trials will continue to address the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin and expand our clinical knowledge of this medication.

Diphtheroids are gram-positive pleomorphic bacilli in the family of Coryneform bacteria. These organisms are present as part of the human flora. Past practice habits had been to consider them as contaminants when isolated from clinical samples. Corynebacterium jeikeium is one of the most clinically important nondiphtherial Corynebacteria that can cause different forms of infections specifically in patients with underlying risk factors and co-morbidities including immunocompromised subjects. Through this article, we present a 67-year-old gentleman with extensive co-morbidities including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and ESRD on hemodialysis through a femoral catheter who presented with chest pain and fatigue. Further investigation confirmed diagnosis of C. jeikeium endocarditis. We go on to review previously reported cases of C. jeikeium endocarditis and we will discuss different aspects of C. jeikeium infection with a focus on microbiology, pathophysiology, and treatment.

Brain machine interfaces (BMIs), or brain computer interfaces (BCIs), are devices that act as a medium for communications between the brain and the computer. It is an emerging field with numerous applications in domains of prosthetic devices, robotics, communication technology, gaming, education, and security. It is noted in such a multidisciplinary field, many reviews have surveyed on various focused subfields of interest, such as neural signaling, microelectrode fabrication, and signal classification algorithms. A unified review is lacking to cover and link all the relevant areas in this field. Herein, this review intends to connect on the relevant areas that circumscribe BMIs to present a unified script that may help enhance our understanding of BMIs. Specifically, this article discusses signal generation within the cortex, signal acquisition using invasive, non-invasive, or hybrid techniques, and the signal processing domain. The latest development is surveyed in this field, particularly in the last decade, with discussions regarding the challenges and possible solutions to allow swift disruption of BMI products in the commercial market.